the decameron(十日谈)-第148节

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said；　being　well　neere　ready　to　burst　with　laughter；　considering；
how　confidently　he　stood　upon　it；　that　he　had　found　the　wonderful
stone；　and　lost　it　by　his　wives　speaking　onely　to　him。　But　when　they
saw　him　rise　in　fury　once　more；　with　intent　to　beat　her　againe：　then
they　stept　betweene　them；　affirming；　That　the　woman　had　no　way
offended　in　this　case；　but　rather　he　himself：　who　knowing　that　women
cause　all　things　to　lose　their　vertue；　had　not　therefore　expresly
commanded　her；　not　to　be　seene　in　his　presence　all　that　day；　untill　he
had　made　full　proofe　of　the　stones　vertue。　And　questionles；　the
consideration　of　a　matter　so　availeable　and　important；　was　quite　taken
from　him；　because　such　an　especiall　happinesse；　should　not　belong　to
him　only；　but　（in　part）　to　his　friends；　whom　he　had　acquainted
therewith；　drew　them　to　the　plaine　with　him　in　companie；　where　they
tooke　as　much　paines　in　serch　of　the　stone；　as　possibly　he　did；　or
could；　and　yet　（dishonestly）　he　would　deceive　them；　and　beare　it
away　covetously；　for　his　owne　private　benefit。
　　After　many　other；　as　wise　and　wholesome　perswasions；　which　he
constantly　credited；　because　they　spake　them；　they　reconciled　him　to
his　wife；　and　she　to　him：　but　not　without　some　difficulty　in　him；
who　falling　into　wonderfull　greefe　and　melancholy；　for　losse　of　such
an　admirable　precious　stone；　was　in　danger　to　have　dyed；　within
lesse　then　a　month　after。




　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　EIGHT　DAY；　THE　FOURTH　NOVELL

　　WHEREIN　IS　DECLARED；　HOW　LOVE　OFTENTIMES　IS　SO　POWERFULL　IN　AGED
　　　　　　　　　　　　　MEN；　AND　DRIVETH　THEM　TO　SUCH　DOATING；　THAT　IT
　　　　　　　　　　　REDOUNDETH　TO　THEIR　GREAT　DISGRACE　AND　PUNISHMENT

　　The　Provost　belonging　to　the　Cathedrall　Church　of　Fiesola；　fell　in
love　with　a　Gentlewoman；　being　a　widdow；　and　named　Piccarda；　who　hated
him　as　much　as　he　loved　her。　He　imagining；　that　he　lay　with　her：　by
the　Gentlewomans　Bretheren；　and　the　Byshop　under　whom　he　served；　was
taken　in　bed　with　her　Mayde；　an　ugly；　foule；　deformed　Slut。

　　Ladie　Eliza　having　concluded　her　Novell；　not　without　infinite
commendations　of　the　whole　company：　the　Queen　turning　her　lookes　to
Madame　Aimillia；　gave　her　such　an　expresse　signe；　as　she　must　needs
follow　next　after　Madame　Eliza；　whereupon　she　began　in　this　manner。
　　Vertuous　Ladies；　I　very　well　remember　（by　divers　Novels　formerly
related）　that　sufficient　hath　beene　sayde；　concerning　Priests　and
Religious　persons；　and　all　other　carrying　shaven　Crownes；　in　their
luxurious　appetites　and　desires。　But　because　no　one　can　at　any　time
say　so　much；　as　thereto　no　more　may　be　added：　beside　them　alreadie
spoken　of；　I　wil　tel　you　another　concerning　the　Provost　of　a　Cathedral
Church；　who　would　needes　（in　despight　of　all　the　world）　love　a
Gentlewoman　whether　she　would　or　no：　and　therefore；　in　due
chastisement　both　unto　his　age　and　folly；　she　gave　him　such
entertainment　as　he　justly　deserved。
　　It　is　not　unknowne　unto　you　all；　that　the　Cittie　of　Fieosola；　the
mountaine　whereof　we　may　very　easily　hither　discerne；　hath　bene　（in
times　past）　a　very　great　and　most　ancient　City：　although　at　this　day
it　is　wellneere　all　ruined：　yet　neverthelesse；　it　alwaies　was；　and　yet
is　a　Byshops　See；　albeit　not　of　the　wealthiest。　In　the　same　Citie；　and
no　long　while　since；　neere　unto　the　Cathedrall　Church；　there　dwelt　a
Gentlewoman；　being　a　Widdow；　and　commonlie　there　stiled　by　the　name　of
Madame　Piccarda；　whose　house　and　inheritance　was　but　small；
wherewith　yet　she　lived　very　contentedly　（having　no　wandering　eye；
or　wanton　desires）　and　no　company　but　her　two　Brethren；　Gentlemen　of
especiall　honest　and　gracious　disposition。
　　This　Gentlewoman；　being　yet　in　the　flourishing　condition　of　her
time；　did　ordinarily　resort　to　the　Cathedrall　Church　in　holie　zeale；
and　religious　devotion；　where　the　Provost　of　the　place；　became　so
enamored　of　her；　as　nothing　（but　the　sight　of　her）　yeelded　him　any
contentment。　Which　fond　affection　of　his；　was　forwarded　with　such　an
audacious　and　bold　carriage；　as　hee　dared　to　acquaint　her　with　his
love；　requiring　her　enterchange　of　affection；　and　the　like　opinion
of　him；　as　he　had　of　her。　True　it　is；　that　he　was　very　farre　entred
into　yeares；　but　yong　and　lustie　in　his　own　proud　conceite；
presuming　strangely　beyond　his　capacity；　and　thinking　as　well　of　his
abilitie；　as　the　youthfullest　gallant　in　the　World　could　doe。
Whereas　（in　verie　deede）　his　person　was　utterly　displeasing；　his
behaviour　immodest　and　scandaious；　and　his　usuall　Language；
savouring　of　such　sensualitie；　as；　very　fewe　or　none　cared　for　his
company。　And　if　any　Woman　seemed　respective　of　him；　it　was　in　regard
of　his　outside　and　profession；　and　more　for　feare；　then　the　least
affection；　and　alwayes　as　welcome　to　them；　as　the　head…ake。
　　His　fond　and　foolish　carriage　stil　continuing　to　this　Gentlewoman；
she　being　wise　and　vertuously　advised；　spake　thus　unto　him。　Holy
Sir；　if　you　love　me　according　as　you　protest；　and　manifest　by　your
outward　behaviour：　I　am　the　more　to　thanke　you　for　it；　being　bound
in　dutie　to　love　you　likewise。　But　if　your　Love　have　any　harshe　or
unsavourie　taste；　which　mine　is　no　way　able　to　endure；　neyther　dare
entertaine　in　anie　kinde　whatsoever：　you　must　and　shall　hold　mee
excused；　because　I　am　made　of　no　such　temper。　You　are　my　ghostly　and
spirituall　Father；　an　Holy　Priest。　Moreover；　yeares　have　made　you
honorably　aged；　all　which　severall　weighty　considerations；　ought　to
confirme　you　in　continency　and　chastity。　Remember　withall　（good　sir）
that　I　am　but　a　child　to　you　in　years；　and　were　I　bent　to　any　wanton
appetites；　you　shold　justly　correct　me　by　fatherly　counsell；　such　as
most　beautifieth　your　sacred　profession。　Beside；　I　am　a　Widdow；　and
you　are　not　ignorant；　how　requisite　a　thing　honestie　is　in　widdowes。
Wherefore；　pardon　mee　（Holy　Father：）　for；　in　such　manner　as　you　make
the　motion：　I　desire　you　not　to　love　mee；　because　I　neither　can　or
will　at　any　time　so　affect　you。
　　The　Provoste　gaining　no　other　grace　at　this　time；　would　not　so
give　over　for　this　first　repulse；　but　pursuing　her　still　with
unbeseeming　importunity；　many　private　meanes　he　used　to　her　by
Letters；　tokens；　and　insinuating　ambassages；　yea；　whensoever　shee　came
to　the　Church；　he　never　ceased　his　wearisome　solicitings。　Whereat
she　growing　greatly　offended；　and　perceyving　no　likelyhood　of　his
desisting；　became　so　tyred　with　his　tedious　suite；　that　she　considered
with　her　selfe；　how　she　might　dispatch　him　as　he　deserved；　because　she
saw　no　other　remedy。　Yet　shee　would　not　attempte　anie　thing　in　this
case；　without　acquainting　her　Bretheren　first　therwith。　And　having
tolde　them；　how　much　shee　was　importuned　by　the　Provost；　and　also　what
course　she　meant　to　take　（wherin　they　both　counselled　and　encouraged
her：）　within　a　few　daies　after；　shee　went　to　Church　as　she　was　wont　to
do；　where　so　soone　as　the　Provost　espyed　her：　forthwith　he　came　to
her；　and　according　to　his　continued　course；　he　fell　into　his　amorous
courting。　She　looking　upon　him　with　a　smiling　countenance；　and　walking
aside　with　him　out　of　any　hearing：　after　he　had　spent　many　impertinent
speeches；　shee　（venting　foorth　manie　a　vehement　sighe）　at　length
returned　him　this　answer。
　　Reverend　Father；　I　have　often　heard　it　saide：　That　there　is　not
any　Fort　or　Castle；　how　strongly　munited　soever　it　bee；　but　by
continuall　assayling；　at　length　（of　necessity）　it　must　and　will　be
surprized。　Which　comparison；　I　may　full　well　allude　to　my　selfe。
For；　you　having　so　long　time　solicited　me；　one　while　with　affable
language；　then　againe　with　tokens　and　entisements；　of　such
prevailing　power：　as　have　broken　the　verie　barricado　of　my　former
deliberation；　and　yeelded　mee　uppe　as　your　prisoner；　to　be　commanded
at　your　pleasure　for　now　I　am　onely　devoted　yours。
　　Well　may　you　（Gentle　Ladies）　imagine；　that　this　answere　was　not　a
little　welcome　to　the　Provost；　who；　shrugging　with　conceyte　of　joy；
presently　thus　replyed。　I　thanke　you　Madame　Piccarda；　and　to　tell
you　true；　I　held　it　almost　as　that　you　could　stand　upon　such　long
resistance；　considering；　it　never　so　fortuned　to　mee　with　anie
other。　And　I　have　many　times　saide　to　my　selfe；　that　if　women　were
made　of　silver；　they　hardly　could　be　worth　a　pennie；　because　there　can
scarsely　one　be　found　of　so　good　allay；　as　to　endure　the　test　and
essay。　But　let　us　breake　off　this　frivolous　conference；　and　resolve
upon　a　conclusion；　How；　when　and　where　we　may　safely　meete　together。
Worthy　Sir；　answered　Piccarda；　your　selfe　may　appoint　the　time
whensoever　you　please；　because　I　have　no　Husband；　to　whom　I　should
render　any　account　of　my　absence；　or　presence：　but　I　am　not　provided
of　any　place。
　　A　pretty　while　the　Provoste　stood　musing；　and　at　last　saide。　A　place
Madame？　where　can　be　more　privacie；　then　in　your　owne　house？　Alas
Sir　（quoth　she）　you　know　that　I　have　two　Gentlemen　my　brethren；　who
continually　are　with　me；　and　other　of　their　friends　beside：　My　house
also　is　not　great；　wherefore　it　is　impossible　to　be　there；　except
you　could　be　like　a　dumbe　man；　without　speaking　one　word；　or　making
the　very　least　noyse；　beside；　to　remaine　in　darkenesse；　as　if　you　were
blinde；　and　who　can　be　able　to　endure　all　these？　And　yet　（without
t